...Raining on my Seoul

So I've spent the better portion of this morning sitting in a coffee shop playing online when I would love nothing more than to be exploring this great city. Since my arrival, Seoul has alternated between oppressive heat and humidity and pissing down rain. I just looked at the 10-day forecast and they're predicting rain and humidity every day.

Yesterday, I went out with two fellow teachers at Korea Poly School, Sarah from Minnesota and Tobye from NYC (there was Dallas, from Phoenix; Cleveland - he was from Detroit; and Tex... well, I don't remember where Tex come from).
We had lunch at a Dak Kalbi joint. After lunch, Sarah, Sydney and I headed over to Olympic Park. It was a nice walk, despite getting rained on toward the end. And I was able to play fetch with Syd for approximately 2 minutes before being told to stop by a cop. Speaking of the pup, I think I'm going to get back to the apartment, practice some Korean, and eat some lunch.

A New Dawn in the Far East

August 25, 2010

Somewhere over the Pacific

So now that I am officially on my way, I can start to reflect on what exactly brought me to this point, what I have learned, and where I am going. When people first asked me why I moved to Wisconsin, I would tell them, “For a job and grad school.” Eventually that response devolved to become, “Bad decisions.” I became so jaded by my situation in Milwaukee that I didn’t even want to talk about why I had moved up there in the first place because it would necessitate elaborating on a long and, quite frankly, depressing series of poor decisions and failures on my behalf. No one likes to relive their worst moments in life, and by simply living in Wisconsin I was reminded of those abject failures on a daily basis.


This is not to say that I was miserable in Milwaukee; I had a great group of friends and I am thankful for the ability to be there for my dad through a very difficult period in his life. But after two years of feeling like a hamster on a wheel, I had to get out.


I’m excited to be on this journey now, but at first I described it as an “Honorable retreat.” I felt like I was not going forward, but back. Back to where I was when I first graduated from the University of Tennessee, back to a land that I loved, back to a point when I wasn’t advancing my career or academic goals, but I would not be struggling. I was throwing in the towel, living to fight another day, and getting out while I still had a scrap of sanity.


This is not how I feel now, and I’m even slightly ashamed to admit ever feeling that way. While I have taught in Asia before, I will not be in the same situation. While I don’t plan on teaching abroad forever, that does not mean that I cannot improve myself and therefore improve my career prospects. I can and will learn the language. I can and will get into a grad program that suits me. Moreover, this is a second chance, and second chances in life are inherently rare. It can be like Japan, only better. I know I will create many of the same friendships and memories as I did during my one year in JET, but this time I can walk away feeling like I’ve accomplished something. I’m going to make this time count.


August 26, 2010

22:03-Seoul

Breathe Zach, breathe. You’ve made it Korea with your dog. You are both OK. Do not let this minor inconvenience of your apartment not being ready send you down the negative black hole spiral which you fell into when in Japan. New story, new ending.


Sydney seems to be understandably freaked out, but I took her for a brief walk and she already appears to be doing much better. When I brought her to the Animal Quarantine section of customs the woman looked at my certificate of rabies vaccination and immediately spotted a problem. The document was signed using a computerized signature as opposed to by hand. The woman had a rather annoyed look on her face and said, “It’s fine, just don’t do it next time.” Hey lady, there better not be a next time! I don’t know if I can handle this stress again! On the bright side, during our walk I think I turned the head of every attractive Korean girl I saw. I’m sure Syd deserves some (or all) of the credit. I’m not sure what the Korean version of “Kawaiiiiii!!!” is yet, but I’m sure I’ll learn it in short order.


OK, let’s get some sleep and start anew tomorrow. One day at a time, one day at a time…

I'm so bored with the US...A

So this is it, y'all. Last day in America. I've been so stressed out with packing/moving/dog concerns that I've just now started to get excited. I think with the way life has worked out these last few years, my natural inclination is to not believe something is real until it actually happens. There has been almost a disconnect in my brain during this entire process, stemming from a deep-seeded fear that anything that can go wrong, will. This, if for no other reason, is enough of a reason to get the hell out of the states and hit the "reset" button on life.

Other than that, I woke up at 5 AM Seattle time for no particular reason. I should be tired, but the solid six hours of sleep are a godsend compared to the 2-3 hours a night I have been getting most of this week. So here in about an hour I'll take a shower, pack, have breakfast, go to training, and then at 11 we'll be off to the airport! Time to get started on the rest of my life.

...and of course, all apologies to The Clash.

Blast from the Past: Packed day in Prague

Originally written March 17, 2008

06:53
I set out early today to catch the Charles Bridge before it got packed. It wasn’t raining before I left but it’s coming down fairly steady now. Without proper sunlight the photos at Charles were a bust. However, I should get some neat ones around the Jewish Quarter, particularly in the cemetery. Now its off to the US Embassy (AKA MacDonald’s).

09:13
“Abeles, Adolf-1942…”

10:16
“The end of the 18th Century saw a fundamental change in the social status of Jews in the Habsburg Empire. The reforms inaugurated during the enlightened absolutist reign of Joseph II were directed at the creation of a strong centralist state…”

11:11
I stopped in a touristy pizza joint for two reasons: 1) I’ve had a terrible stomach, and if I’m going to pay to shit, I might as well do it on a nice toilet and 2) pizza sounds real good at the moment.
The Jewish Quarter was quite extraordinary. The holocaust has never quite hit so close to home as when I saw my family’s name (Abeles) in red letters as victims of the Nazi regime. And yet, I don’t feel as if I feel enough. Not just in this case either; I go along with life in a highly scientific, almost disconnected, non-emotive state. Stephanie noted as much the other night.

19:05
The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful, apart for (FINALLY!) getting my rucksack (!!!) I immediately showered and shaved and changed my underwear. It was glorious. Of course, now I feel that I’ve overpacked.

Other than that (as the man at the desk put it) “surprise” I made one last venture into the city. Unfortunately the museum of the city of Prague was closed. It was bitingly cold, even while donning my much-missed double-layered hoodie, and I just did not have the energy or desire to fight the weather an longer. Prague was great to me and I hope to be back one day. Now it’s off for one last Czech meal and then on to Budapest!

Minutes later, At the Restaurant
I don’t know why, but I just feel comfortable in the Czech Republic, despite not speaking a word of Czech. It’s weird, some places just feel right. As a point of contrast, I never felt at this home in Japan.

Meanwhile, there is a music video playing with some crazy shit going on—some old dude just sprouted peacock feathers! The people aren’t overly kind or friendly, nor are they rude or grumpy, they are just unpretentious and living their lives. I like that. I can relate to that.

22:14-On the Train to Budapest
I have a cushy bottom bunk with two friendly Korean girls en tow. A huge improvement over the psycho, drunk, probably-descended-from-Nazis Austrian that I encountered last time. The train is nearly empty, a bit spooky actually. My companions are scared out of their wits. Traveling can be scary at times, certainly. I’ve found a lot of people don’t like traveling by train, especially at night. However, I’ve always quite enjoyed it.

Losing and the Cubs: A Lesson in Futility

Oh, you adorable Cubbies, dependably snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and today was no exception. For as far back as I can remember, I've wanted to go to a Cubs game. Wrigley Field. The Ivy. The Tradition. The Losing. I wanted it all and I finally had my chance today.

Like many great ideas, this day trip was concocted in an inebriated mind. However, unlike many of my "great" ideas, I actually thought this was a good one when I woke up in the morning. Why not? Oh, I can think of reasons: I'm preciously low on time in the States and my "To Do" List is growing out of control, packing, moving, freaking-out, packing some more. You get the idea. But alas, in my 27 years of life I had never been to Wrigley and I needed to make it happen. Especially with the knowledge that the world will end on my 30th Birthday.

It was a fantastic trip, and maybe I'll elaborate once I have the time. Long story short, it was an amazing experience and capped off by the Cubs blowing a 1-run lead in the top of the 9th by giving up a 3 RBI triple. Final score: 5-3, Braves.